Improvement in mail-bags



B. LANDON. Mail-Bag.

No. 210,338. Patented Nov. 26, 1878.

Z (/Jgvmirom/ ATTORNEYS.

WITNEssEs: f @M UNITED STATEs PATENT EETGE.

BENJAMIN LANDON, OF CANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAIL-BAGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.l 210,338, dated November 26, 1878 application tiled October 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LANDON, of Canton, in the county of Bradford and State ot' Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Bags, of which the following is a speciiication:

The object of this invention is to provide a mouth-piece for the mail bag or pouch that can be easily and quickly opened and closed, and that will remain open when the matter is being taken from the pouch without being held, but at the same time can be securely closed and locked.

It consists in connecting the mouth of the pouch with metallic plates, pivoted at their ends to connectin g-cli ps, whereby the bag can be readily opened to its full size, and will remain in that condition whilethe mail is being removed.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a plan of the metallic plates and their connections, to which the mouth of thebagis attached, showing their position when opened. Fig. 2 represents the same closed. Fig. 3 is an underside view ot the mouth-piece. Fig. et is a section through line x x, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section taken through line y y, same iigure. Figs. 6 and 7 show the manner ot' closing the space between the plates when the bagis closed, to prevent the extraction of letters.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate corresponding parts.

{eferring to the drawings, A A, 85e., represent metallic plates having rounded ends a a, which are brought close together within the clips I3, and secured therein by rivets b. The clips are formed of a single piece of metal, bent over so that the sides are parallel, and are applied to the metallic plates with the open ends inside, while the bent end is out, 'whereby the metallic plates have a free movement, permitting them to be folded up parallel to each other and in contact, as shown in Fig. 2, while in the opposite direction their movement is limited by the rounded back of the clip. Six of these metallic plates are thus pivoted together, and when opened, as in Fig. 1,' form a hexagonal ligure, giving this shape to the mouth ot' the bag, and when closed the edges of one half the plates fold against the edges of the other halt, and form parallel lines, as in Fig. 2, thus closing the mouth of the bag.

The bag or pouch is indicated by the letter O. It is secured to the metallic plates in the following manner: The upper free edges, o, of

the pouch are bent over toward each other and l laid against the under side of the metallic plates A, (after they have been joined togetherg) then wooden strips d, ot' the same length as the plates A, are laid against the under side of the bent portion c ot thc pouch, each wooden strip placed immediately underneath a metallic plate, and when the parts are so placed together, as clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, rivets c are passed through holes made through the strips, leather, and metallic plates, and firmly fastened in place. In this manner a perfectly secure connection ismade between the bag and the jointed metallic mouthpiece, possessing all the requisite strength and per manency. A catch, f, tixed to one ot' the me tallic plates A, enters a socket between the me tallic plate g, riveted in place, and the plate to which it is ixed, immediately opposite to the plate to whichthecatchis txed. In the endof the catch is a hole coinciding with ahole, h, through the plate g and the plate to which it is at tached, so that when the bag is closed, as in Fig. 3, it can be fastened by passing the hasp of the lock through the coinciding holes, as represented by t'.

D represents a label, with any desired in scription, which is secured to the mouth-piece by contnin g its edges under the plate j. This plate is riveted to the plate of the mouth-piece, suflicient space being left for the insertion of the label; and on the metallic plate opposite,

when closed, a metallic plate, 7c, is riveted, so

as to abut against the outer edge of the label, and thus prevent it from being slipped out until the bag is opened. Two such arrangements are shown in the drawing.

To prevent the extraction ot' letters when the bag is closed, an arrangement is adopted which is fully illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. The plate j is set back a little distance from the edge of plate A, and plate 7c is set a little over the edge of the plate t0 which itis attached, forming a lip. Now, when the bag is closed this lip projects over the space between the two portions, ell'ectually closin g the same, as shown in the drawing, and preventing the extraction ot' letters, &c.

Another way of securing the pouch to the mouth-piece consists in riveting to the under side of each of the platesforming the mouthpiece a right angular plate, forming thus flanges, to the outside of 4which the mouth of be made. Then, again, it is more easily fastened and unfastened than those now in use, as there are no straps and hasps employed, which take up so much time in closing the bags. Further, when the bag is opened it Will remain open while the mail is being removed. This alone is an important advantage over the present form of bag, where the mouth has to be opened every time the hand is placed in the ba gand taken therefrom-an inconvenience that is especially annoying when filling the bag.

Having thus described my invention, Iclaim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The metallic plates A, having rounded ends a, brought close together and secured Within clips B, which are closed on the outside and open on the inside, as shown and described.

2. The turned upper free edges of the pouch laid against the under sides of the plates A, in combination with the wooden strips d and rivets e, the former arranged against the under side of the turned portion of pouch, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with plate A, of the lcatch f, having end hole, and the plate g, having hole h, as and for the purpose specified.

4. The plate j, riveted to the plate of mou thpiece, in combination with the plate 7c, adapted to prevent the label from being slipped out before the bag is opened, as described.

5. The plate k, set over the edge of the plate to which it is attached, and forming a lip, to close the front opening in plate j, as shown and described.

6. As animprovement in mail bags, ponches, Snc., the metallic plates A, pivoted together at the ends to form a mouth-piece, in combination with the wooden strips d and the mail bag or pouch G, substantially as described.

BENJAMIN LANDON.

Titncssesz A. M. AYRES, C. E. RIGGs. 

